Common Conditions of Birds

General Information

Pet birds often become ill. While most avian diseases can affect every species, some species are more prone to develop certain conditions. By being familiar with the various conditions that commonly affect a certain species, your veterinarian is able to formulate a diagnostic and treatment protocol that is most likely to result in a correct diagnosis and cure for your bird's illness. While not listing every possible disease that may afflict your bird, the following discussion will make you more familiar with the specific problems your pet bird is most likely to encounter.

Budgerigars

"Budgerigars or budgies are known for developing various solid external tumors as well as internal tumors."

Budgerigars or budgies are known for developing various solid external tumors as well as internal tumors or cancer. One common cancer that affects the kidneys or reproductive organs causes a unilateral (one-sided) lameness that owners often mistake for an injured leg. Knemidokoptic mange is a mite infection causing a crusty dermatitis of the cere (area around the nostrils over the beak), face and feet. Thyroid disorders such as goiter and hypothyroidism occur in budgies. While not common in most birds, budgerigars can become afflicted with diabetes mellitus. Chlamydophilosis is a common cause of respiratory disease in these popular birds. Since many owners incorrectly feed an all seed, high fat diet to their budgies, obesity is common and hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) is a problem that often causes death in this species. This species is predisposed to a diet-related (high fat seed diet) tumor called a xanthoma, that is found on the wings and ventral abdomen. While reproductive problems are not
usually seen in most pet birds, egg binding is seen with some frequency in pet budgerigars, even those housed individually without a mate.

Cockatiels

"Cockatiels are commonly afflicted with respiratory disease."

Cockatiels, like budgies, are commonly afflicted with respiratory disease caused by Chlamydophila psittaci. An unusual manifestation of the internal parasite Giardia is seen in cockatiels. Affected birds are very itchy and violently attack themselves, especially under the wings. Another protozoal disease, trichomoniasis, often causes regurgitation in cockatiels, as does a yeast infection with Candida organisms. Birds on an all-seed diet often become obese; these birds are easily stressed and sudden death is common. Fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis) also occurs as a result of the high fat, all seed diets; it can cause sudden death. As with budgies, reproductive problems are seen with some frequency, even in individually housed pets.

Canaries

"Canaries have several genetic maladies."

Canaries have several genetic maladies. Feather cysts, which require surgical removal, frequently occur in canaries. Cataracts are not uncommon. Baldness of the heads of certain male canaries also occurs. An unusual form of Knemidokoptic mange called tassle-foot occurs frequently in these popular birds. Air sac mites that infect the trachea and air sacs commonly contribute to respiratory disease in canaries. Owners who provide their canaries with nesting material made of fine thread often unknowingly cause a problem for their birds: the fine thread can wrap around a toe or foot causing gangrene within a short time, causing serious damage; with severe gangrene the foot may need to be amputated!. Finally, poxvirus often causes skin disease or death in canaries. As with other small birds, reproductive problems such as egg binding are seen in canaries.

Finches

"Finches often have air sac mites."

Similar to canaries, finches often have air sac mites, leading to severe respiratory disease. Tapeworms commonly infect the intestinal tract of pet finches. The fine thread nesting material that can cause gangrene of the limbs in canaries also causes the same problem in finches. As expected, these small birds often have egg-binding problems that can rapidly result in death if not treated early.

Conures

"Silent carriers of Pacheco's virus and polyoma virus."

Conures are noisy birds but can make good pets. Since they can be silent carriers of Pacheco's virus and polyoma virus (without showing clinical signs), it may be prudent to house these birds separately from other species. A strange bleeding syndrome occurs in conures; luckily can be treated effectively. Feather picking is seen with some frequency in pet conures. Papillomas (warts) occur in conures, as does proventricular dilatation syndrome, which is fatal.

Lovebirds

"Lovebirds are intolerant of heat and are easily stressed."

Lovebirds are often affected with chlamydophilosis and/or the yeast infection candidiasis. The poxvirus often causes a discoloration of the skin rather than the actual crusted lesions that are typically seen in other birds. Lovebirds are intolerant of heat and are easily stressed. Various infectious causes of feather loss occur in lovebirds. Epilepsy is seen in lovebirds. Reproductive problems, seen frequently in other small birds, also occur with some frequency in lovebirds.

Grey Cheek Parakeets

"Grey cheek parakeets are the number one species infected with avian tuberculosis."

Grey cheek parakeets often develop sarcoptic mange, an itchy skin disorder. Chlamydophilosis often occurs in these birds, and they are the number one species infected with avian tuberculosis. Unlike most birds, blood flow after nail clipping is very slow and sometimes non-existent; however, post-nail trimming lameness often occurs.

African Gray Parrot

These high-strung birds often develop psychological feather picking. A potentially fatal syndrome occurs in African grays where they develop low blood calcium resulting in seizures. Aspergillosis, a potentially fatal fungal infection, is difficult to diagnose but is often seen in African grays. Respiratory conditions such as sinusitis are seen; many bacterial infections are difficult to treat. Cancer is seen with some frequency in this species, as is the fatal beak and feather disease.

Amazon Parrots

Amazons are commonly afflicted with upper respiratory diseases, many of which result from vitamin A deficiency associated with an all-seed diet. Poxvirus is commonly seen in Amazons, as are cloacal papillomas (warts). Mutilation of the wings and legs occurs. Amazons commonly exhibit mating season aggression towards their owners; some of these birds become too aggressive to handle. Some Amazons develop epilepsy. Like African Grays, Amazon parrots also develop cancer. Moreover, like most birds on an all seed diet, Amazons commonly develop obesity and hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease).

Macaws

"Acne, normally rare in birds, occurs in macaws."

Macaws were the first species to develop proventricular dilatation syndrome, which causes chronic and progressive weight loss and ultimately death. Chlamydophilosis occurs in this species with some frequency, as do gastrointestinal ascarids (roundworms) and the gastrointestinal parasite Capillaria. Oral and cloacal papillomatosis are seen frequently; and acne, normally rare in birds, occurs in macaws. Psychological feather picking often occurs in the larger species of birds that are tightly bonded to their owners; macaws are no exception. Regression to juvenile behavior occurs frequently and may be the only sign of illness in sick macaws.

Cockatoos

"Tapeworms and blood parasites are common in cockatoos."

Cockatoos, like other large birds, often develop psychological feather picking that is difficult to treat; however, other problems such as beak and feather disease, first seen in cockatoos, may also cause feather loss. For this reason, any feather loss should be thoroughly investigated by your veterinarian. Tapeworms and blood parasites are common in cockatoos. Like macaws, regression to juvenile behavior is often seen in cockatoos and may be a very early sign of severe illness in this species. Cloacal prolapses, often confused with cloacal papillomas, occur frequently in cockatoos. Lipomas (benign fatty tumors) are commonly seen in Rose Breasted Cockatoos.

This client information sheet is based on material written by: Rick Axelson, DVM